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@Anonymous wrote:
@lg8302ch wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:Amex doesn't support Dynamic Currency Conversion, so it is safe to use that.
Re cap1: not really, depends how lucky you feel. With the QS, you will get 1.5%, but if there is a good chance of 3 or 5%, and a worst case of 1%, I will take the chance.
@LTL would you mind sharing how you get anything else but 1,5% on Cap1 QS? In my experience that was a solid figure on my QS. But as for the FTF cards with bonus categories I will probably do a little bit more gambling with Chase Freedom in these categories and pay FTF as I am a UR junkie ..lol.. getting 5 x UR points and pay 3% is getting an option for me. For above purchase if used with CSP I would have gotten the 1 x points and no FTF but look at the results I get for a small FTF. I am ready to maybe every once in a while pay Chase a small fee on these categories
I think we are saying the same thing, I was addressing my near-namesakes argument about using the QS. If you use the QS you will get 1.5% all the time. If you "take a chance" on using a category card (I was thinking on those without a FTF) you stand a good chance of getting 5 or 3% etc, with a worst case of 1%, so if you feel reasonably certain, it makes sense to use the category card.
Less sure about FTF cards such as the freedom though, because with a FTF, if you get 1%, with the FTF it becomes negative, so LT_Ls argument for QS is more compelling
Thanks for clarifying No question a no FTF card with category spend is a no brainer as you can only win but for me as UR junkie I just figured I might decide to pay the 3% for 5 x UR that still leaves me ahead of CSP in these categories. Of course if you have a 3 x or 5 x with no FTF then surely use that one. My only one is Discover IT that does have bonus categories and no FTF but acceptance is really terrible...but very slowly improving in the past decade so that gives hope ..lol. If Amex would decide to not restrict the bonus categories to US purchases I would consider PRG once they remove the FTF. Or even Platinum if they would add the bonus categories...but right now it simply does not work out for me with AX. Acceptance is not perfect but still much higher than Discover
@Anonymous wrote:
@lg8302ch wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:Heading over to London at the end of next month. Restaurant spending will likely be the bulk of our spend, and luckily, that's one of the 5% categories for Chase next quarter.... Since Freedom has a forex fee (3%) using it on resto purchases would still net roughly 2% cash back, right?
My only card without a foreign transaction fee right now is Cap1 Quicksilver with a measly limit (well below what we'd spend on 2-3 meals during our trip), so I was primarily going to use it for smaller purchases like coffee and other incidentals. Other option is an AMEX EveryDay or a Citi AA Platinum Select, but still have the foreign transaction fee there.
Can't wait to app for CSP later this year!
Here is a small update on my results. LTL got me curious so I went ahead with a try in the grocery category as I just came back to Europe. While the gas station did not work ( maybe because it was not at the pump ) I can report positive results for groceries
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So it looks very good for your restaurant spend on your trip ! Have a nice journey
Interesting! Definitely will use Freedom for restaurants then. I wrote the Cap1 EO this weekend and got a call from them today to chat about a CLI on that card before I go. Didn't get a chance to call them back today, but hopefully tomorrow I can report back some favorable news!
(Also, in years of traveling internationally, I've never had a merchant offer to make a charge in USD... They've only ever been processed in the local currency, didn't know that was even a thing.)
Good luck with the EO. If they cannot offer it permanently ask if they can do an exception temporarily. If this also does not work you can always pay during your billing cycle and free some available spend like that. In other words you can run higher than your CL through the card and Cap1 likes heavy usage but you could not charge a single transaction over the CL. But when travelling you might have many smaller charges anyway and not that real big single one.
Many merchants have found an interesting way to make money by using dynamic conversion. Customers are not familiar with the foreign currency amount compared to their card currency and will often select their card currency. When I see customers charge in Europe many select USD because they are more familiar with the currency and know easier how much this is in terms of value. It is always worse and you can look at that number to have an idea how much it is but payment should be local currency. And make sure you do not forget the travel settings on any card you plan to use abroad ..lol... I am terrible and cannot count how many times I have blocked my own cards myself While Cap1 always kindly smiles I just got a lecture from US Bank for domestic travel I did not set.
Thank you, lg! Really helpful, and genius re: making payments on the card while I'm there.
Sounds like it's time to app for a Venture!